Today in History

Today is Friday, Jan. 18, the 18th day of 2013. There are 347 days left in the year.

Today's highlights

On Jan. 18, 1943, during World War II, Jewish insurgents in the Warsaw Ghetto launched their initial armed resistance against Nazi troops, who eventually succeeded in crushing the rebellion. The Soviets announced they'd broken through the long Nazi siege of Leningrad (it was another year before the siege was fully lifted). In the U.S., a ban on the sale of pre-sliced bread - aimed at reducing bakeries' demand for metal replacement parts - went into effect.

On this date

In 1778, English navigator Capt. James Cook reached the present-day Hawaiian Islands, which he named the "Sandwich Islands."

Thought for Today: "Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it." - Danny Kaye (1913-1986).

(Above Advance for Use Friday, Jan. 18)

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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